Thanks! I never paid attention to the way springs look on and off the car but I was looking at my rear springs over the weekend when the car was on a lift and they seem to be very different than the one in the picture. They looked like a linear design to me mainly because I didn't notice the tapering but maybe some of the tapered part was covered. Also seemed like more coils but I'm not sure about that part.

Frank, if you are still lurking around here, any more word from Swift about the springs you wanted them to make for you (us)?

If your gas cap light comes on even if you think you tightened the cap, try pulling on the cap as you tighten it. Worked for me.Help us with suspension specs!Vag Evolution: MkI Rabbit -> MkII 16v GTI -> B5 S4/MkV .:R32

Pulled out my original springs and the Euro springs from storage and cleaned them up to send to Tyrol Mike. He has a basic spring rate jig and gets weights at 1", 2", 3" of compression. Here are some comparison pics and basic info. Just a reminder, this is for the A3 3.2, which is more like the 5-door R32.

I briefly owned S3 Euro springs and sold them to Katie before ever installing them. I also briefly questioned the wisdom of this quick sale, but ultimately I'm a happy camper with my linear springs: 7" 450lb/in front; 10" 350lb/in rear. Now sitting 25 1/4" FTG on 245/40 R17 tires.

I briefly owned S3 Euro springs and sold them to Katie before ever installing them. I also briefly questioned the wisdom of this quick sale, but ultimately I'm a happy camper with my linear springs: 7" 450lb/in front; 10" 350lb/in rear. Now sitting 25 1/4" FTG on 245/40 R17 tires.

For anyone else considering the ground control option, I finally pulled the trigger and tried it. When I talked to GC, I told them that I wanted to do the same springs as Jay with the same kind of goals in mind of being more track capable yet not too excessively stiff for rough roads, and that I wanted to stay close to stock ride height (or maybe just a tad lower). I basically said, that's what I want, these are the springs Jay used and he is happy and asked if the same springs should work for me to accomplish the same things with my Koni FSDs. They said yes, so I ordered and got them installed. Well, turns out rear is good (for me) sitting at about 25.75 now, but I'm at about 26.75 in the front with adjusters all the way down at both ends. OK, sure, its not an exact science and you take some risk when trying things like this, but GC takes no responsibility. They are saying they gave me what I asked for and seem not to recall other details of the conversation pre-purchase. And -NOW- they tell me that the spring they normally sell with the MKV / MKVI kits to use with Konis is a 5" 425 lb spring They are going to ship me some different springs to try now, but its just a bit frustrating to have to pay for labor or spend wrench time re-doing something that I already paid to have done once. I'm going to try 5.5" 475 lb springs for the front which should put me at about 25.25 in the front (maybe a hair higher initially, but I'm assuming both ends will still settle a bit). Anyway, my point is not to rant or bag on GC, but mainly just to share the infos in case anyone else wants to try a GC + Koni set up. I'll report back with impressions and such after getting the new front springs in.

Konis have big spring perches welded to the bodies that don't allow the GC hardware to mount as far down on the shock body as they apparently can with the Ohlins. This is just a random pic I grabbed, but give you an idea:

Thanks guys. Can the perches be removed? Well... 'anything' is possible I suppose, but seems like it would be pretty difficult to cut / grind it down far enough without either mangling the body or spending a LOT of time on it. Difference between FSD and other Konis? Not sure if that's what you meant, but I asked the GC guy about Koni yellows - if they would allow for a longer front spring - and he thought no, they are about the same as the FSDs as far as perch position.

I'm looking to do some suspension mods to my car, and was wondering what you guys recommend for an aggressive track setup. I have a pretty conservative budget and was leaning toward a fairly stiff spring/strut combo. I'm not too worried about height adjustability. Thanks!

Konis have big spring perches welded to the bodies that don't allow the GC hardware to mount as far down on the shock body as they apparently can with the Ohlins. This is just a random pic I grabbed, but give you an idea:

I have done similar coilover conversion in the past with struts that have perches as above. Basically it involves cutting off the perch, and grinding down the weld bead. the ring that you see at the base just below the perch is where the coilover sleeve will sit. DO NOT remove that ring. Did this many of times in the past with Bilstein sport struts using coilover conversion sleeves from Shine Racing Services. I have also assisted friends in the past with use of the Ground Control sleeves. Very similar setup and easily to do.

I think he is running stock sway bars..most people trying to improve handling on this car stick with stock to prevent wheel lift.

If your gas cap light comes on even if you think you tightened the cap, try pulling on the cap as you tighten it. Worked for me.Help us with suspension specs!Vag Evolution: MkI Rabbit -> MkII 16v GTI -> B5 S4/MkV .:R32

I hope it's cool to ask this hear, but I'm deciding on Neuspeed springs or ST coil overs. Mainly worried about ride comfort as I had H&R coilovers on my gti and they were so harsh. I assume the Neuspeed ride better, while the ST's give more drop and handle better (Also cost more). All I want is some lowering, good ride comfort, and a little increase in handeling for as cheap as possible... which is a hard combo to find. Any advice? (There are no spring rates for either here so I dont know)

I hope it's cool to ask this hear, but I'm deciding on Neuspeed springs or ST coil overs. Mainly worried about ride comfort as I had H&R coilovers on my gti and they were so harsh. I assume the Neuspeed ride better, while the ST's give more drop and handle better (Also cost more). All I want is some lowering, good ride comfort, and a little increase in handeling for as cheap as possible... which is a hard combo to find. Any advice? (There are no spring rates for either here so I dont know)

Perfect question for this thread.
If you are concerned mainly about comfort, I think dampers make the biggest difference and the Ohlins or FSD's will probably be your best bet. Personally, I wouldn't get just springs and if I had to choose between your two options, I'd go with ST's (or pay a bit more for KW's). But in reality, I wouldn't get either as I'm set on Ohlins and you can read ryeboy's review of them here or in his thread. But I plan on keeping my car for life and I want to compromise as little as possible if I'm going through the trouble of changing anything so it might not be the route you want to go with. It sounds to me like FSD's will be a great fit for what you you are asking for and later down the line, maybe a set of custom springs like the Swift or what ryeboy got.

If your gas cap light comes on even if you think you tightened the cap, try pulling on the cap as you tighten it. Worked for me.Help us with suspension specs!Vag Evolution: MkI Rabbit -> MkII 16v GTI -> B5 S4/MkV .:R32

Personally I didn't think SHS and stock springs with FSD were a big difference to each other comfort wise. One a little better at bumps the other at stability ( which I count a comfort too). Would guess with Neuspeed similar would apply.

Personally I didn't think SHS and stock springs with FSD were a big difference to each other comfort wise. One a little better at bumps the other at stability ( which I count a comfort too). Would guess with Neuspeed similar would apply.

Which one was better at what?

If your gas cap light comes on even if you think you tightened the cap, try pulling on the cap as you tighten it. Worked for me.Help us with suspension specs!Vag Evolution: MkI Rabbit -> MkII 16v GTI -> B5 S4/MkV .:R32

FSD was a little smoother. SHS had more stability and body control. All in all a draw. Low speed FSD and higher speed SHS
Best way I can describe/ remember getting old and I changed a few years back.

Thanks...the FSD's may have been even better with higher rate springs...seem to be very similar to the Ohlins but no way to tell without trying both. My money is still on Ohlins but I've yet to try the MkV platform on anything but stock and PSS10's.

If your gas cap light comes on even if you think you tightened the cap, try pulling on the cap as you tighten it. Worked for me.Help us with suspension specs!Vag Evolution: MkI Rabbit -> MkII 16v GTI -> B5 S4/MkV .:R32

lol, I couldn't watch that with sound but it looked pretty funny. I kinda always wanted a 2.5 RS Coupe...

If your gas cap light comes on even if you think you tightened the cap, try pulling on the cap as you tighten it. Worked for me.Help us with suspension specs!Vag Evolution: MkI Rabbit -> MkII 16v GTI -> B5 S4/MkV .:R32